A GOLDEN OPPORTUNITY
Boyertown grad Jerome Kapp, a two-time All PSAC East first-team selection, attended Temple’s Pro Day ahead of the NFL draft
Kutztown University’s Jerome Kapp plays football because he loves it. But after three seasons with the Golden Bears, the wide receiver realized he could turn his love into a career. Now, Kapp is looking to become the first Golden Bear to be selected in the NFL draft since 2017.
Kapp, a Boyertown grad, went to Philadelphia last month to attend Temple’s annual Pro Day. The event gave Kapp, a two-time All Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference East first-team selection, a chance to showcase his skills in front of scouts ahead of this month’s NFL draft.
“The overall experience was really surreal and something I dreamed about my whole life,” Kapp said. “It didn’t disappoint.”
The 6-3, 210-pound Kapp had two more years of NCAA eligibility remaining but decided to forego them to pursue his dream of being in the NFL.
“He really wanted to chase the NFL dream and, you know, we’re behind him 120%,” Kutztown head coach Jim Clements said. “He’s a phenomenal guy. He’s just working out and killing it.”
Although he dreamt about this opportunity his whole life, Kapp didn’t always think it was possible.
“I never thought that I’d be in the position that I’m in right now, to be honest,” Kapp said. “I was just playing the game because I love it, but I realized late in my career at KU that I could lead this into a career … It added fuel to the fire, a fire that I never had before.”
Kapp said his time at Kutztown helped him become a player that has caught the attention of pro scouts.
“My development is what I credit it to; there were a lot of great coaches and players that pushed me to get better,” Kapp said. “Being able to spend my time at Kutztown was nothing short of a dream.”
That development was the result of hard work. Each time Kapp glanced at Kutztown’s scoreboard and read “Andre Reed Stadium” — named for the KU great and NFL Hall of Fame wide receiver — he was reminded of what he could accomplish. Whether it was practices or his own workouts, Kapp was assiduous, striving to emulate the greatness set before him.
“Jerry’s a gym rat,” Kutztown running back Jordan Davis said. “Every catch he made on Saturday, he would make crazier catches on Monday.”
However, Kapp’s path to Pro Day didn’t begin at Kutztown. Kapp went to Seton Hill out of high school, but got injured and took a medical redshirt season. His desire to be closer to home swayed him into transferring to KU, but he did not have immediate success.
Kapp began his KU career as a redshirt freshman and had 32 catches for 462 yards and five touchdowns in 12 games. However, after returning from a cancelled season due to COVID-19, Kapp took off in 2021, solidifying himself as a top receiver in the league with 43 catches for 812 yards and eight touchdowns in 13 games, and helping the Golden Bears win the PSAC title.
“When he got here he had to learn a new system, but he’s a bright kid and he picked it up quickly,” Clements said. “That second year he became more comfortable in the offense and he steadily got better every year and every practice.”
Kapp’s best season — his senior season — helped solidify his pro prospects. He ended the 2022 season with 47 catches for 916 yards and nine touchdowns
in 11 games.
During his tenure as a Golden Bear, Kapp had 122 catches for 2,190 yards and 22 touchdowns in 36 games. He has the thirdmost receiving yards and is tied for the fourth-most receiving touchdowns in Kutztown history. He ranks above Reed, who was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2014, in both categories.
For Kapp, modeling his game after two current NFL wide receivers has helped him grow.
“I model my game after Alec Pierce (of Indianapolis), similar frame and skillset,” Kapp said. “And his ability to play special teams, I know that’s gonna be my in for the league. I want to be the guy you can plug in anywhere and get the job done. Mike Evans (of Tampa Bay), too, his ability to stretch the field and high point the ball, those two are who I watch most.”
Kapp’s size and big-play ability made him a daunting task for college defenders. He had
catches of 84, 61 and 50 yards in his career.
Kapp looks to join running back Don Shaver (seventh round, Minnesota, 1991), Reed (fourth round, Buffalo, 1985), linebacker John Mobley (first round, Denver, 1996) and offensive lineman Jordan Morgan (fifth round, Chicago, 2017) as the fifth KU player selected in the NFL draft.
“Honestly, if he was at any other school I think he’d be a day one, day two pick,” Davis said.